temperamental

adjective

ˌtem-p(ə-)rə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce temperamental (audio)
Definition of temperamentalnext
1
as in moody
frequently influenced by moods and especially bad moods one of those temperamental actresses who can make life difficult for everyone around her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly stock prices have been pretty temperamental lately, often fluctuating wildly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of temperamental The temperamental Moon in your 11th House of Friends squares passionate Mars in your 8th House of Intimacy and Shared Resources, stirring tension around trust, contribution, and control. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026 Your 11th House of Friendship lights up as the temperamental Moon conjoins ambitious Mars there, so group plans heat up and leadership may naturally come your way. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2026 The guest rooms felt dated, the vintage plumbing was temperamental, and the noisy window air-conditioning units distracted from the historic charm. — Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 11 July 2026 Your 3rd House of Communication is stirred by the temperamental Moon, while the life-giving Sun boosts your 7th House of Partnership, aligning words with steady commitments. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for temperamental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temperamental
  1. moody
  2. volatile
  3. impulsive
  4. unpredictable
  5. unstable
Adjective
  • The group, which also includes Bret Domrose and Robert Mailhouse, offered a moody rendition of the rock number, off their 2026 LP All in Now.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Improvements included painting the cabinets a moody Benjamin Moore Crownsville Gray, building a custom oak butcher block, and installing a striking custom brass backsplash behind the range.
    — Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of moody
Adjective
  • Back in the early 1980s, amid a volatile chicken market, McDonald’s needed help pricing their nuggets and limiting the risk of menu price fluctuations.
    — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Historically, memory has been a volatile, highly cyclical industry.
    — Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • The actor starred on The Sopranos as Christopher Moltisanti, the cousin of Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano who often ends up in trouble because of his impulsive ways.
    — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But as with any James Gray film, there are life-altering consequences on the other side of impulsive decision-making for the sake of the American dream.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of impulsive
Adjective
  • Some have been Ukrainian drones knocked off course by Russian electronic warfare, such as the jamming of navigation signals, which can make their flight paths unpredictable and complicate decisions about whether and where to shoot them down.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Carefully evaluate both options, then, before making a final decision and don't discount the advantages of splitting your funds between both account types, which may be your best recourse in today's still uneven and unpredictable economic terrain.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • At the same time, categorical funding can be unstable from year to year due to changing priorities and how much money the state has to appropriate.
    — Jason Burns, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Inside a fusion machine, the plasma can reach temperatures hotter than the Sun’s core while powerful magnetic fields squeeze it into a tiny, unstable space.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of unstable

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Cite this Entry

“Temperamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temperamental. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of temperamental for Spanish Speakers

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